Manchester City vs Sheffield Utd prediction: ENGLAND: FA Cup betting tips on match 2023-04-21 15:45.
Having completed a 4-1 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals by holding the German champions 1-1 in midweek, Manchester City turn their attention to domestic affairs once again. Impressively, they are in the FA Cup (FAC) semi-finals for a fifth season running after demolishing Burnley 6-0 in the last round.
With City also closing in on Arsenal at the Premier League (PL) summit, they will be dreaming of their own true âtrebleâ, just like their neighbours Manchester United were around this time back in 1999. And it certainly seems like this could finally be their year at present, with no defeat in 15 matches, including ten occasions where City have netted 3+ goals!
Cityâs record at the ânewâ Wembley Stadium (W12, D3, L8) also speaks for itself. Yet, those hoping to see Pep Guardiolaâs men fail might point to a return of four defeats in their last five visits here. City are also winless against Sheffield United in FAC H2Hs spanning back to 1906 (D2, L4), though a 2-1 loss back in January 2008 is the only time theyâve met in this competition since 1939.
The Blades themselves return to Wembley as FAC semi-finalists after a nine-year wait. Back in 2014, a promising 2-1 half-time lead morphed into a harrowing 5-3 defeat against eventual runners up Hull City, but the Bramall Lane sideâs current cup run is rich in late flourishes, with each of their last four FAC matches seeing them net inside the final 20 minutes of play.
That includes a 1-0 win over PL side Tottenham, and while the lack of home turf makes this a different prospect, Paul Heckingbottomâs men are hitting form at the right time in every way. Aside from putting them on the brink of promotion via second place in the Championship, a 1-0 midweek win over Bristol City means they have won six of their last seven matches.
Players to watch: Jack Grealish scored in last seasonâs FAC semi-finals (vs Liverpool). Though he was on the losing side that day, his six most recent decisive goals at club level have all come during wins by a multi-goal margin. Sheffield United midfielder Iliman Ndiaye clearly has the ability to make a dynamic difference too, having produced a goal contribution in each of the Bladesâ last three wins (G2, A1).
Hot stat: Four of Cityâs five most recent matches at Wembley have seen one team win âto-nilâ.